I'd been anemic for years, but only thought about it when I went to give blood (and they wouldn't let me). I just ignored it most of the time...thought it was temporary. Soon after this last time, though, that along with the bad news about Teflon caused me to pull out my ancient cast iron fry pans and start using them exclusively. And I started eating raisins on my oatmeal every morning. When I went in for a physical in March, my bloodwork was perfect, including iron.

Now that I look back, I must have been chronically anemic for years and years. I no longer need naps in the middle of the day. My hair is even softer, and I'm not sensitive to cold like I was. So I keep using my cast iron and eating my raisins (along with the leafy green veggies that I was already eating), and I feel great. I was doing myself a disservice by ignoring it, but apparently it doesn't take much to fix it. Just like my mother lowered her cholesterol by switching to real butter and olive oil.

I have a bad connotation with iron pills, having become severely constipated when I was pregnant many years ago--so I'd rather make changes than take iron pills. The changes seem to have worked for me.

Karen